Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) Data In Kenya. Addressing Gaps, Tracking, Monitoring Of SDG Indicators

By CHOICE Project Kenya – Aga Khan University, September 2025

Introduction

Kenya’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relies heavily on reliable, timely, and inclusive data. Yet, despite notable achievements, significant gaps remain. Currently, Kenya tracks only 68% of global SDG indicators, with major shortfalls in health (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), and climate action (SDG 13).

The CHOICE Project, led by Aga Khan University, brings together academics, policymakers, civil society, and youth to address these challenges. This policy brief highlights the state of SDG data in Kenya, the barriers limiting its full use, and practical recommendations for strengthening data systems to ensure no one is left behind.

GET THE WHOLE BRIEF

You can get the whole brief by clicking the link below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OQEHIhE4UbFkwfm6PqDI5IzflG5DxiRH/view?usp=drive_link

The State of SDG Data in Kenya

Kenya reports on 171 out of 251 SDG indicators. However, several remain unreported because the data is missing, inaccessible, outdated, or not disaggregated. For example:

  • SDG 3 (Health): 11 of 28 indicators are unreported. Local data exists (e.g., alcohol consumption), but lacks standard methods for national reporting.

  • SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Only 10 of 14 indicators are tracked, with gaps on women’s land rights and legal frameworks.

  • SDG 13 (Climate Action): Kenya reports on 6 of 8 indicators, but methodological gaps remain in areas such as climate education.

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) maintains strict standards before accepting data, ensuring rigor but excluding potentially valuable administrative or community-level data. Furthermore, reliance on censuses and surveys is unsustainable due to irregular funding.

Key Challenges

  1. Data silos: Ministries, agencies, counties, and non-state actors often collect data independently, limiting integration.

  2. Limited infrastructure: Counties face capacity gaps in digital and physical systems for data storage, analysis, and sharing.

  3. Underutilized data: Rich datasets exist in CSOs, academia, and government, but poor coordination prevents their use.

  4. Inconsistent funding: National censuses and surveys depend heavily on donor support.

  5. Weak disaggregation: Data often lacks details by gender, age, or geography, reducing its policy value.

Opportunities and Innovations

Despite these challenges, several innovations can transform Kenya’s data landscape:

  • Alternative sources: Citizen-generated and community health data, such as Kilifi’s surveillance model, can fill gaps.

  • Technology: Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics can complement traditional data sources and reduce costs.

  • Collaboration platforms: Partnerships between KNBS, counties, CSOs, academia, and the private sector can build shared repositories and harmonized standards.

  • Simplified local tools: Open-access platforms, mobile apps, and harmonized survey templates can make grassroots data collection faster, cheaper, and more consistent.

Policy Recommendations

The CHOICE Think Tank proposes six actionable steps:

  1. Strengthen a national minimum-optimal SDG dataset – update Kenya’s indicator framework, integrate all research and administrative data into a centralized platform, and promote county-level application.

  2. Invest in sustainable data systems – modernize infrastructure, including county-level data hubs and the National Data Center at Konza.

  3. Scale up community-based data collection – train local health workers and replicate successful county models nationwide.

  4. Promote interagency data sharing – strengthen legal frameworks and incentivize NGOs and academia to contribute data.

  5. Enhance capacity and data use – train county-level officers to turn raw data into actionable insights.

  6. Secure sustainable financing – combine consistent government funding with innovative financing such as blended funds, philanthropy, and green bonds.

Conclusion

Kenya’s journey to achieving the SDGs is inseparable from the strength of its data ecosystem. Quality, accessible, and inclusive data is not just a technical issue—it is central to planning, accountability, and sustainable development.

The CHOICE Project calls on government, development partners, academia, and civil society to co-invest in a robust data system. With the right policies and financing, Kenya can shift from data scarcity to data-powered progress, ensuring that development truly leaves no one behind.